Retiring right, winter 2016 retired member

              retiring RIGHT P E R S Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Director’s Corner
Investing in Oklahoma
Joseph A. Fox, Executive Director
This newsletter is all “by the numbers” as we present our
Popular Annual Financial Report for fiscal year 2016. Many
people find numbers to be boring, but if you take a deeper
look there is often a compelling story to be found. One
such story is the investment our retirees are making in
Oklahoma. In fiscal year 2016, OPERS paid out $565 million in
benefits, and did you know almost 95% of these benefits stay
in Oklahoma?
A recent study by the National Institute on Retirement
Security found that state and local pension plans like OPERS
help drive economic activity within communities all across
Oklahoma. According to the study, expenditures originating
from state and local pensions in Oklahoma contribute
nearly $3 billion in economic activity; support more than
20,000 jobs that pay $900 million in wages and salaries; and
contribute $244 million in state and local tax revenue. Of
the nearly $3 billion in economic impact, $1.3 billion resulted
from retiree spending, and the remainder from businesses
employing more workers and purchasing additional goods
and services.
(Continued on page 8)
2 / Retirement 101
Required Minimum Distributions:
What It Is and Why You Should Care
3 / 2016 Popular Annual Financial Report
By the Numbers
7 / Healthful Hints
Four Ways to Show Your Brain Some Love
8 / Contact OPERS
Estate Planning
At a Glance
“Estate” may sound like a fancy word, but everyone has one.
Your estate is made up of everything you own – your car, home,
bank accounts, investments, life insurance, furniture, and your
prized baseball card collection. To ensure what you have is given
to the people or organizations you care about most, you will
need to provide instructions on how to handle your estate after
your death. Below are elements everyone should consider to
guarantee your wishes are carried out.
Make a Will
A will designates who will inherit your assets, who will be
the executor of your estate, and who will care for any minor
children you leave behind.
Consider a Trust
Holding property in a living trust can shield your survivors from
the time and expense of probate court. A trust may also make it
easier to transfer assets to a minor.
Consider Your Health Care Directives
A living will outlines your healthcare instructions and a medical
power of attorney names one person who will make decisions
for you if you cannot.
(Continued on page 7)
Retired Member Edition Winter 2016
See Inside:
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
for the Fiscal Years Ended June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015